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| Manila, Philippines |  Review on June 13, 2018: |
BnK
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
The interview was last June 7, 2018 and was scheduled at 6:40 am.
It was drizzling outside and I arrived around 5:30 AM without an umbrella. We bought our umbrella from the vendors outside and made sure it is allowed inside the embassy. They offered us some chair too (for a fee) while we waited. They reminded us of the things not allowed inside and also offered to keep our stuff, again, with a fee. BTW, any kind of bag is allowed - just no gadgets, phones and any electronic devices.
I had to wait outside until the guards told us that we can already form a line and finally go in. Before entering the embassy, I have to present our passport, (instructed us to place it inside the ziplock they provided) and DS160. Then we went through all the scans for our items and were asked to be seated in the chair. They asked us to prepare the DS160, Passport, Birth Certificate, Cenomar, NBI and Medical results. After a while we were told to be in the line and to approach any window that will open for the Pre-screening.
Pre Screening questions: The Filipino CO takes the documents.
1. Full name and birthday
2. If my fiance is of Filipino descent
3. Age of Fiance
4. Where we met/what date
5. When we started dating
6. When I first saw him in person
7. No of days we spent together
8. Last time I saw him in person
9. If i brought with me remittances - I said NO lol ;P
10. Cards?? I said yeah from the flowers he sent me
11. Asked me what the Notarized Affidavit of oneness is for. I said its for my middle name (name in birthcert is Juana C. Juana instead of Juana dela Cruz Juana)
Biometrics:
The American guy at window 57? was very friendly, warm and nice. He was the only one taking the biometrics at that time. I was first in line.
It was quick, and I was done with both by 6:50 am.
Final Interview: American CO (opens 7:30 am)
1. We were asked to take an oath
2. Full name and birthday
3. Told me he may need AKA for NBI and Cenomar
4. If my fiance is Filipino
5. Why the name of my son's father not in his birth cert (interrogated me actually with all the follow up questions)
6. Asked my son the last time he saw his bological father.
7. If I intentionally wanted an AMERICAN man.
8. Who reached out to who first
9. What his first msg was for me (I read it to him, I brought the screenshots of our first convo but he didn't ask for it)
10. How we communicate
11. Why he visited me jst one time
12. If i just talked to him to be petitioned! (more of a statement not a question)
13. Asked my son what his relationship is with him/ how he finds him
14. What I love about him/ hate about him.
15. What I do for a living/where?
16. If I brought with me pictures of us (I brought 31 pics in 4R and he checked each one "intently' as I explained that we have separate dinners with my college friends, best friends, colleagues and family)
The Filipina CO was very professional. She looked strict but I did have a nice experience with her. The one who took the bio-metrics was the nicest.
I heard that the Filipino COs were more strict, so I expected the last interview to be easy. I was deflated  . He came very strict and at some point (to me) judgmental. His voice was loud and I really felt like he was waiting for me to make a mistake. He was even trying to educate me, he said "the reason why you have to see each other is to spend more time together to get to know each other". While its true, I almost said I know him better than anybody I've known coz we talk for hoursss and you shouldn't have made this process so expensive but just went on to say that the last planned visit didn't happen coz my fiance's dad got sick. He calmed down. But I still feel that hes not yet done and he was not gonna make the interview easy for me.
Maybe it was just his strategy to catch fraud and I hope he does catch them!!!
He started sounding nice when he asked me what my job is. After seeing our pics, he then returned it, gave me the IMBRA pamphlet and said "Congratulations, you are approved! Please read this and know that in case you need help, you may call 911......please get that piece of paper outside the window".
I was smiling a lot this time and was so grateful coz I couldn't believe it. I really felt that he was gonna deny me. I told him I didn't get his name but he said they are not allowed to give it, so I just said Thank you so much again, SIR!!
I went home feeling weak. I couldn't even celebrate the "approval" he said. I couldn't even afford to eat breakfast, I just felt deflated and judged (in a way). But all is good now! Everything was worth it. My fiance never doubted that we were gonna get approved since day 1.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #23990